Process for raising dough temperatures



Dec. 4, 1951 K R. N. wml-'REE PRocEss FOR RAISING nouGH TEMPERATURES Filed Aug. 27, 1945 mvsm'on Tee R.N.Wi f mw Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES TNT OFFICE PROCESS Fon RASING DoUGH TEMPERATURES Robert N. Winfree, Omaha, Nebr.

Application August 27, 1945, Serial No. 612,817

The present invention relates to a process for treating batches of dough cr sponge in bread making. l

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for processing bread dough whereby batches of mixed dough not of uniform temperatures, which have been mixed an equal amount of time as to each batch, are each raised to a rselected and uniform degree Farenheit of temperature.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a process for increasing the temperature of different batches of dough uniformly, whereby uniform fermentation and a consequent un- "form product is resultant therefrom during a baking run of a plurality of said batches baked or treated separately.

As heretofore practiced, a primary diiculty in the commercial or large scale production of bread has been a loss of time and labor which has been occasioned resultant from differences of thermal conditions caused by changes in the weather and the like resulting in a lack of uniformity of the resultant product. Also during la. mixing of bread doughs, especially where power machinery is employed for said mixing, friction and heat are generated by contact of the power operated mixing arms with bread doughs, whereby the temperature of the latter is gradually increased and since a batch of dough requires a certain amount of mixing time and the rate of increase of the temperature of a given batch of dough depends on the stiffness of the latter and to the degree of temperature applied to the mixing bowl by extraneous means such as refrigerating coils which are usually employed with said bowls, whereby the quality of the loaves derived from different batches of dough is not uniform.

Also during a run of several batches of dough, room temperatures may change and vary between the mixture of a batch and a subsequent batch of the run. A further reason for variations between batches of a run is that the workman may not accurately proportion the ingredients or provide the same kneading treatment to each batch. Also, there often are differences, in the our derived from different bins of a large commercial bakery, whereby one batch of flour will provide a more glutinous mixture with respect to a subsequent batch, said glutinous content affecting the temperature of the batch correspondingly by changing the consistency of the dough. |The glutinous content of flours varies accordingly and with respect to the wheat from which the our derived vsince fhardlgwheat Vi claims. (ci. 11W-54.)V Y

provides a diiferent glutinous content than what is -known as soft wheat.

It is lalso well known that the quality and `quantity of gluten in a bread dough governs the capacity of the dough to retain the gas which causes the dough to expand during a baking thereof into loaves of bread and that a difference in temperature of a batch of dough causes a corresponding difference in the time required for fermentation of the batch since one degree in `temperature of said batch will usually result in Va difference of fifteen minutes in the time required for fermentation.

Also, as heretofore practiced, a Workman applies different mixing times to different batches of dough in accordance with his judgment as to the proper length of time, whereby the human factor is invqolved and the latter provides vari- .ables since the workmans calculations consist partially of guess as well as an employment of .good judgment, whereby bread doughs are either ,undermixed or overmixed in an attempt to provide bread doughs of a uniform temperature for Yprocuring a uniform product therefrom, and

the presentinvention aims to obviate certain of the undesirable features of the prior practice. The single figure of the drawing depicts a longitudinal vertical section of a bread dough -trough embodying the present invention.

Y Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, I0 indicates a trough in which a batch of bread dough is placed during a. fermentation of the dough.

The trough I is formed of any suitable electrically insulating material or is lined with the ilatter, whereby short circuits are prevented during a later described use thereof.

At one end of the trough I0, an electrode II is provided formed of any suitable conductor of electricity such as copper or the like. Preferably the, electrode II is approximately the same area -in plan as the end wall l2 of the trough, being disposed against the latter or secured thereto.

bearing iiange or the like I 1 is provided, whereby An insulated wire I8 is in electrical communi-v cation, as at I9, with the electrode II and a similar wire 2B is similarly connected to thev electrode I3, as indicated at 2 I The Wire 20 is in communication with a thermostat switch, the latter being generally indicated. at 22, and since said switch is of conventionalY construction, it is believed not to reduireV any particular description or illustration herein.

end which is also in electrical communication with the switch 22. The Wires I3 and 23 are electrically connected to a push-in plugy 24.

At times when the plug 24 is disposed in electrical communicationV with a source of electrical energy, such as a 110; volt, circuit, and attimes when, the, switch 2'2 is in a normalclosed position,` it will be seen; that an electrical circuit is thereby closed between the electrodes II and I3 andl through` the mass of dough 25 within the trough Iii; since said hydrate doughv is in` contact with both off said electrodes asshown inthe drawing.

The invention further includes a means,A for causing the above described electrical circuit to becomeA open responsive to the temperature of the mass of dough 25 attaining a certain selected degree of' heat resultant from current flowing through said mass.

The preferred means for actuating the. switch 22 for opening the above described circuit includes a thermometer indicated at 2 5.V

The member 25' may be of' simple construction as shown in the drawing, including an elon'-l gated glass tube, the latter beingprovided with a sump 2'Ii at the closed end thereof; Within .the-globular shaped sump, a quantity of mercury 2.8vis provided. The interior of' the sump and said` mercury is in electrical communication with -a` wire v25.

-eter than is shown in the drawing and said .means` may include a detentV 32`whichiis1disposedV across theropen end oi the-`A thermometer tube-. By wrapping the wire. about Vthezdetent 32; the` operator may regulate the distance of the end' 3l. of thelwire'4 38`with respect to the mercury withinthe tubeY 25..

At1times-:when the temperature ofthedough 25istc be raisedito acertain degree Farenheit,

the operator disposes thev end.; 3l outaofcontact with the mercuryfwithin the tube asumcientfdisstance-awayfrcm said'inercuryy so that at.. the

`timothe mercury expands,- resultantfrom, the

heatiappliedfby the mass: of'doug-h125, and-'said 'mercuryfascends in said: tube, the-mercurylwill' rEhe-.other end of thewire V29' is in 15 An insulated wire 23 is employed, having an.

contact with the end 3| of the wire 30 at the time the mass of dough 25 is of the temperature selected. The usual time required for the electrical treatment of conventional batches of dough is from one to ten minutes in accordance with conditions. In order to facilitate an adjustment of the end 3I` of the wire 3U, a scale, not shown, is etched or otherwise suitably applied on the transparent glassr tube.`A

It will be seen, that, as described, the operator may manipulate the device and so dispose the end 3| of the wire 30 that at times when the mercury ascends and contacts said end 3 I, a circuit will be closed through the wires 2S and 30 and said mercury for so actuating the thermostat switch 2.2 that the above described circuit throughthe wires I8 and 26 and the dough 25 becomes open for cutting off the supply of heat applied to the dough 25 by said electrical energy.

During a production of bread, an operator assembles the conventional ingredientsI from which, the bread ismade ina mechanical dough mixer, including water, our, yeast and the; like and' indesiredproportions, then causesthe mass to-become admixed'the selected length of time necessaryytov develop the gluteny of the mass to itsfmaximum extent and.y his objective is that the dough dees` not become either overmixed or undermi-xed. Assuming. thatthe operator desires to provide the mass of dough 25 with a-.Yuniform temperature of 76'fdegrees and hedesires a twelve minute-mixing period forfsaid mass,- he regulates Ythel temperaturefof-g the dough lmixer machine, as

to the` jacketv of the latter, scV that when the dough has been mixed the desired twelve minutes; the resultingV4 temperature of the dough will be below the selected 76 degreegtemperature later desired for 4the mass.`

Itgisfanessential stepof` the method that prior to treating each batch of dough by the new means that., the temperatures of the several batches. 01, dough beV lowered below the selected 76.'degreesglduringjan admixing thereof, so Ythat all batches oa run will become of a uniform temperature; by raising each'bat'ch separately tothe selectedv 'li'degrees Fahrenheit` by causing an electrical current to pass :through the vbatch for ai few. minutes untilsaidbatch has attainedthe saicl'selected deg-ree;

It. willfbe obvious; that the above described process#y is equallyY operativeAV with respect.y to sponge dough and; straight dough.

Thef invention may be. embodied in, other specic forms withoutdeparting fromthe spirit or essential characteristics thereof The present embodimentpis therefore to lbe considered in all respects :as` v illustrative and not-restrictive, the scope ofV theY invention being indicated by the appended claims rather'than by the foregoing description, and all changeswhich come within themeaning andarange. ofy equivalency of the claimsi ara-therefore'intended tc be embraced therein".v

Iclaim:

1. A processizforftreatingbatches'of dough or sponge inbread makingprior, to fermentation which.` comprisesmixing the-ingredientsv for each batch of: dough. for a-denite length of .time which issuniform for each:l individual batch ofl afseries o-flbatchesat' a;.temperatureY below a. desiredztemperature,l removing each' 'batchrof Vdough from v`the mixer andirnmediately raising the temperature of "every1 portion, ofi each ".batch. of dough simultaneously tof ther' desired? temperature-,which g is thee same vfor each-batch: of thezseries;` whereby each batch of the series will start its fermentation period at the desired temperature. v

2. A process according to claim 1, in which each batch of dough is electrically heated tothe desired uniform temperature by the internal r'esistance of the dough and which is rautomatically cut off When the desired temperature is reached in each batch.

3. A lprocess according to claim 1, in which the step of raising the temperature of each batch of dough to the desired temperature vis carried out by subjecting each batch to electric energy with each batch of dough being placed rbetween two spaced electrodes to expose the batches to the electric current flowing between the electrodes and through the dough.

4. A process for treating successive batches of dough or sponge in bread making prior to fermentation which comprises the steps of mixing the ingredients for each batch of dough at a temperature below a desired temperature, removing each batch of dough from the mixer and immediately raising the temperature of every portion of each batch of dough simultaneously to the desired temperature which is the same for each ROBERT N. WINFREE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Lauth June 7, 1921 Hull Jan. 6, 1925 Sater Apr. 15, 1930 McArthur Mar. 7, 1933 Warner July 18, 1933 Kremer Dec. 10, 1935 Kremer Sept. 15, 1936 Kremer Sept. V22, 1936 McConnell et al. Dec. 13, 1938 Morton Mar. 7, 1939 Duiy, Jr Aug. 26, 1941 Tenney Sept. 30, 1941 Sticelber Feb. 24, 1942 Wells Feb. 1, 1944 Sticelber Mar. 6, 1945 Sherman Dec. 24, 1946 

